Radio tuning device



June 2, 1936. N NELSON 2,042,956

RADIO TUNING DEVICE Fi1ed`Feb. 24, 1930 s sheets-sheet 1 Xaqlor-i-- June2, 1936. N. NELSON 2,042,956

RADIO TUNING DEVICE Filed Feb. 24. 195o s sheets-sheet 2 7/\4f 7/ ,Z1/Q/a f2' .fsf J7 a 67/ f-J'J' l K l l l l l M i wf/2 l I l l l l l lINVIA/ T012 June 2, 1936. N. NELSON 25042956 RADIO TUNING DEVICE FiledFeb. 24. 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented June 2, 1936 UNITED STATESPATENT oFFicE Nels Nelson, Upper Dai-by, ra. Application February 24.1930, serial No. 430,926

7 Claims.

My invention relates to .new and useful improvements in a radio tuningdevice and has for one of its objects to provide a combination ofelements which Will automatically and selectively tune, start and stop aradio receiving set at predetermined periods of time.

Another object of the invention is to provide a time-controlled circuitmaker and breaker for automatically and selectively timing, tuning,starting and stopping a radio receiving set.

AV further object of the invention is the provision of means to controlthe tuning shaft of the radio receiving set from opposite directions toinsure accurate or positive tuning of the set to a predeterminedbroadcasting wave length.

With these and other ends in view, this invention consists in thedetails of construction and combination of elements hereinafter setforth and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this inventionappertains may understand how to'make and use the same, I will describeits construction in detail, referring by numerals to the accompanyingdrawings forming a part of this application, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a face view of the time controlled apparatus forming a part ofmy invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of Fig. 1 with portions left inelevation.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 without the motor casing.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the device similarto the showing in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6--6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged detail view of the switch mechanism forcontrolling the current to the radio set.

Fig. 8 is an enlargedside elevation of one of the station tuning plugsor selector keys.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged face view of one of the tuning shaft operating orcontrol mechanisms in connection with its solenoid and part of the guideand stop means being shown in section.

Fig. 10 is an edge View of Fig. 9.

Fig. l1 is a perspective view of a plurality of the tuning shaftoperating or control mechanisms, one set of discs being shown in atuning position and the other set illustrated as in a neutral position.

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic view of the several main parts of the tuningdeviceand the electrical circuits.

In carrying out the invention as herein embodied, I5 represents a facepanel preferably of 'I'his face (Cl. Z50-20) able way or may be moldedas a part thereof, the latter construction being preferable although notessential and said barrel has a plurality of transverse or lateral holesl1 spaced apart all the way around said barrel, the spacing preferablybeing uniform and said holes correspond and align with arcuately spacedapertures yI8 in the face panel. The latter may also have certain majordivisions of time indicated thereon, 'such as hours, by the designationnumerals I9 so that the apertures I8 represent minor divisions of timeor quarter hours. The quarter hour divisions are used only as an examplesince any number of apertures can be used representing 5, 10, or even30minute periodsof divisions of time.

The drum carries a number of laterally spaced rings 20 having portionsexposed in all of the holes and said rings are preferably embedded inthe Wall of the drum as plainly shown in Figs. 4 and 6, and each ofthesel rings is connected by an electric conductor 2| with a solenoid 22to be later described. These rings 20 might be properly termed stationselector rings since' through them selected stations are tuned in or theradio re ceiving set is tuned to broadcasting Wave lengths previouslyselected.

Another ring 20a similar to the rings 20 and spaced therefrom andexposed only on the holes Il, which, for Want of a better term, I call astopping selector ring because through it are selected the time or timeswhen the radio receiving set is to be stopped or shut off.

In each of the holes I1 is a conductor strip 23 running substantiallythe entire length of the hole or at least extending a distance equal tothe distance of the combined widths of the selector rings 20 althoughthe forward ends of said conductor strips preferably terminate short oftheir Arespective holes and said strips are also preferably embedded inthe wall of the drum with one end of each having a right angle lug 24projecting through the drum wall and extending into the chamber 25within the drum and formed by the wall of said drum, said lugs formingin effect a commutator ring as indicated at 26 in Fig. 2, it beingunderstood that said lugs are spaced apart and insulated from eachother.

The parts of the conductor strips 23 and the station selector rings 20which are exposed in the holes I1 are preferably diagrammaticallyopposite each other as shown in Fig. 6, although this is not absolutelyessential and somel other arrangement could be utilized so long assimultaneous contact can be made with an/exposed part of one of thestation selector rings and the conductor strip in any of the holes I1 bya station tuning plug or key 21, Fig. 8.

A station tuning plug or key consists of a head 28 of electricconductive material of suflicient size to snugly t in a hole l1 and givea rubbing the hole, said head being carried on a stem 426 which may besmaller than the head and may be of'non-conductive material while on theouter end of the stem is a button or other finger hold by which the plugor key may be readily manipulated. As a number of keys are used, theymay be of diierent lengths so that certain ones will reach only certainof the station selector rings or they may be all of one length so as toreach the ring furthermost from the mouth of a hole and the distance thekey or plug is inserted will bring the head into contact with a desiredstation selecting ring.

In proximity to the lugs 24 o r running in circularparallelism with thecommutator ring 26 is a collector ring 3| insulatedfrom the other partsbut connected by a conductor 32, Figs. 2 and 12, with a contact member33 of an electric switch 34, Figs. 2, 3, and 12. The companion contactmember of the switch is represented as including a spring arm normallymaintaining the switch open so that the circuit including said switch isa normally open one but is periodically closed as will be presentlydescribed.

Said companion contact member 35 of the switch 34 is connected by aconductor 36 with one pole of a source of electrical energy 31 whilefrom the other pole of said source leads a conductor 38 to the branchconductors 39 and 40. The branch conductor 39 is connected to theelectro-magnet 4|, Figs. 7 and 12, which controls the pivoted relay orcontact arm 42 for closing the circuit of the radio receiving set, saidcircuit being conventionally illustrated in Fig. 12 by the conductors 43and their associated switch contact members 44. Another conductor 45with branches runs from the electro-magnet 4| to all of the solenoids22.

'I'he branch conductor 40 is connected to the electro-magnet 46, whichcontrols the relay or contact arm 42 for opening the circuit of theradio receiving set and another conductor 41 runs from saidelectro-magnet 46 to the stopping selector ring 20a.

When the relay or contact arm 42 has been actuated by eitherelectro-magnet to move it to one side of its longitudinal center or tothe closed or opened position, it is held in such position by acompression spring 48, one end of which coacts with the free end of thecontact arm while the other end of said spring is anchored to a support49, such as a wall of the radio set or cabinet and the bracket 50holding the electro-magnets and component parts may be fastened to thesame support.

In order to furnish semi-automatic operation of the tuning device,shunts 5|, including manually operable normally open switches 52, areprovided between the connection from the switch 34 to the source ofcurrent supply 31, and the connections from the station selector ringsto the solenoids 22, and a shunt 53 including a manuallyoperable-normally open switch 54, is provided between the connectionfrom the switch 34 to the source of current supply 31, and theconnection from the stopping selector ring 20a to the electro-magnet 46.

When a solenoid 22 is energized it will attract its plunger 55 and pullupon the two fiat band springs 56 and 51 which are coiled in oppositedirections upon and fixed to the tuning discs 58 and 59' or moreparticularly the hubs 60 thereof. The springs act as connections be-2,042,956 I contact with the electric conductive elements in tweentheplungers and tuning discs and may run over suitable anti-frictiondevices 6I, such as rollers, iournalled. in the guide-stop 62.

The tuning discs are/iournalled upon the radio tuning or condenser shaft63. so as to revolve 5 independently thereof, but in opposite directionsand being arranged in pairs coact with a shaft turner, hereinillustrated as an intermediate disc 64, carrying means 65, 66, such aspins projecting from opposite faces thereof `to be engaged, 10 fromopposite directions by pins 61 and 68, or their equivalent, carried bythe tuning discs 5l and 69 respectively. It might be said that each setof discs constitutes a tuning element and the pins of each set aredifferently arranged or lo- 15 cated so that when one tuning element isactuated Jit will move the tuning shaft from any position to a positionwhere the receiving set will be tuned to a predetermined broadcastingwave length or station and when another of said tuning elements isactuated the tuning shaft will be moved to still another position, dueto the different setting of the. pins, where said receiving set will betuned to still another predetermined broadcasting wave length orstation. As many 25 different tunings can be secured as there are tuningelements having diiferently set pins.

Each tuning disc has a finger 69 to engage the guide-stop 62 when saiddiscs are in their normal neutral positions as shown in Fig. 9 as wellas the right hand tuning element in Fig. 1 and said lingers are held inengagement with the guide-stop by the springs 56 which when the solenoidis de-energized tend to wind up on the hubs 60'and so rotate the tuningdiscs opposite to the directions which they were rotating by themovement of the plunger 55 when the solenoid was energized. Said tuningdiscs are also provided with lugs 16 in which are threaded screws 1| forco-operative engagement with the guide-stop 62 when said tuning discsare rotated for tuning the radio receiving set and said screws make itpossible to obtain a micrometer adjustment for securing an exceedinglyaccurate tuning of the radio receiving set. These screws also make itpossible to obtain the adjustment necessary in different localitieswhere a receiving set may be installed or due to slight variances causedby different lengths of aerials or ground connections.

The contact 35 of the switch 34 is periodically actuated for closing theelectric tuning circuit, for

instance, at fifteen minute intervals, by a cam wheel 12 constructed andarranged to actuate the contact 35 at the periods desired and forconven- 5 ience of illustration this cam wheel is shown and described asmaking one revolution in fifteen minutes, the same being mounted upon ashaft 13 driven by a motor 14, either a spring motor such as a clockmechanism oran electric motor such G0 as is used in electric time orsignal clocks and from this motor also drives through a suitable trainof gears a brush 15 having sliding contact with the commutator ring 26and the collector ring 3| so that periodically or step by step a circuitis 65 partially completed between the collector ring 3|, brush 15.andlugs 24 of the strips 23. More speciflcally the means for impartingmotion to the brush 15 includes a pinion 16 on the shaft 13 which pinionmeshes with a gear 11 on the shaft 18 which is revolved by the gear 11and therefore transmits motion to the pinion 19 also on the shaft 16,said pinion 19 meshing with a gear 6|) on a sleeve 8| to which the brush15 is ilxed. A bearj ing strip 82 may be relatively narrow and suitably75 end of each of the several shafts.

Where it is desirable to use the mechanism for indicating hours, thesleeve 6| which makes only one revolution to every forty-eightrevolutions of the cam wheel 12 and therefore one revolution in twelvehours may have an hour hand 83 mounted on the end projecting through theface plate l and co-operating with the numerals I9 to indicate thedifferent hours and in such a case a shaft 64 passes through the sleeveand has a minute hand 25 mounted on its outer endl while adiacent theinner end is fixed a pinion 86 to mesh with the gear 11 sovthat saidshaft will be revolved once every hour or make one revolution to, everyfour of thecam wheel 12.

From the foregoing description it will be obvious that while the tuningdevice is operating the brush 15 will make contact with the lug 24 of adifferent strip 23 every fifteen minutes and while a circuit including aparticular lug and strip and the collector ring 3| may be partiallycompleted by the brush 15 such a circuit will be further partiallycompleted only when the cam wheel 12 closes the switch 34. Now, if saidcircuit is not still fur- 'ther completed, no operation takes place, butif said circuit is further completed as by one of the plugs or keys 21havingbeen inserted in one of the holes I1, so as to partially completea circuit between a station selector ring and a strip 23, then such acircuit is completed and an electric current will flow from the sourceofelectrical energy 31 through the conductor 36, the closed switch 34,conductor 32, the strip 23with which the key 21a, Fig, l2, is engaged,through the head of said key to the station selector ring 2D with whichthe head of said key is on contact then through the conductor 2| to thesolenoid 22a then through conductor 24, electro-magnet 4|, branchconductor 39 and conductor 38 back to the source of electrical energy.The flowing of this electrical current will simultaneously energize thesolenoid 22a and the electrmagnet 4|, the former causing the tuningshaft to be rotated until the pins 61 and 68 on the tuning discs 58 and59 respectively have engaged the pins 65 and 66 from opposite directionsat which time the radio receiving set is properly tuned to apredetermined broadcasting wave length. It might be well to state atthis time that regardless of the positions of the pins 65 and 66 due tothe prior position of ythe disc 64, one of said pins will be engaged bythe pin on one of the tuning discs so as to rotate the tuning shaft inproper direction to bring it into the predetermined tuned position.Since the pins on both tuning discs of al co-operating pair of suchtuning discs finally engage both pins on the tuning shaft rotating disc,there can be no lapping of the tuning shaft.

As before stated, the electro-magnet 4| is energized simultaneously withthe solenoid 22a so that the relay or contact arm 42 is attracted bysaid electro-magnet 4| to close the radio receiving set circuit and thelatter circuit will be maintained in a closed condition by the spring 48until the relay 42 is actuated in the opposite direction as will bepresently described.

'I'he time apparatus continuing to function, the switch 34 will be openvery shortly after having been closed so that the circuit abovedescribed will be opened and the solenoid 22a and the electro-#magnet 4|de-energized. This has no effect upon the relay 42 because it is held bythe spring v46 but the springs 56 of the tuning unit which were actuatedby the plunger 55 of the solenoid 22a, as soon as vsaid. solenoid 22ahas de?- energized will wind up and return thetuning discs.

to their neutral positlons,.leaving the shaft turner 64 inthe positionit was set by the tuning discs.

The continued operation of the time mechanism advances the brush 15 stepby step from the lug 24 of one strip 23 to the lug of another of .such

lstrips and when reaching a lug of said strip where another plug or keyhas been inserted, a different tuning unit willl be operated at the timeof the closing of the switch 34 so that the radio receiving set will betuning to another broadcasting wave length in the same manner as abovedescribed.

Assuming that the broadcast to which the radio receiving set was tunedthrough the operation of the solenoid 22a is to continue for forty-veminutes and if it is desired to shut oif the radio receiving set, then aplug or key 21h is inserted in the proper hole to produce afcontactbetween a l utes later a circuit will be completed in a man# ner similarto that first described but instead of one of the selector rings 20, itwill include the `stopping selector ring 20a, conductor 41,electromagnet 46 and branch conductor 4|), and as soon as theelectro-magnet 46 is energized, it will attract the relay or contact arm42 toward it, thus opening the radio receiving set circuit which willthereafter be retained in an open condition by the spring 48 until againacted upon by the electro-magnet 4|.

As shown in Fig. 12, the same operations can be accomplishedsemi-automatically, for, if it is desired to tune the radio receivingset to a broadcasting wave length or station designated by the tuningunit controlled by the solenoid 22a a switch 52 in the circuit includingsaid solenoid 22a is closed so as to complete a circuit through saidsolenoid and the electro-magnet 4| and when it is desired to stop theradio receiving set, the switch 54 is manually operated to complete thecircuit through the electro-magnet 46 which will operate the relay inthe same manner as when the. device is caused to function through themedium of the timecontrolling device.

From the foregoing description, it will be obvious that I have provideda full automatic device for tuning radio receiving sets which may alsobe semi-automatically operated if desired. By the use of such a device,a radio receiving set may be automatically tuned to predeterminedbroadcasting wave lengths or stations at predetermined times as well assimultaneously started. The device will also stop the receiving set at atime or times previously determined.

The functioning of the device thus makes it possible to tune the radioreceiving set to different broadcasting Wave lengths at successivepredetermined times or to stop the receiving set and then retune it andagain start it at another time after a period of time has elapsedbetweenl broadcasting periods. Also the device can be used to maintainthe receiving set tuned to a `predetermined broadcasting wave length andstarted and stopped at the beginning and ending of selected broadcastswhere undesired intervening broadcasts occur or the device will tune thereceiving set the selected wave length, and start the receiving set at apredetermined time and then stop the receivingset at anotherpredetermined time and during the interval between the starting andstopping of the receiving set many varied or different programs may bereceived.

said rotary contact member, said lugs being in' sulated fromeach other,meansnormally acting to continuously rotate said rotary contact memberin one direction, a collector ring concentric with the rotary contactmember, said contact member being constantly in engagement with saidcollector ring,` a switch, means operated by the means for rotating therotary contact member to periodically close said switch, stationselector rings, tuning elements for actuating the tuning shaft of aradio receiving set to tune said receiving set to different broadcastwave lengths, solenoids for operating said tuning elements, each of saidsolenoids being electrically connected with a separate station selectorring, and means for electrically bridging a selected contact lug with aselected station selector ring and thereby to tune the radio receivingset to a predetermined broadcast wave length' at a predetermined time.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1 in combination Iwith anelectro-magnet in circuit with all of the solenoids whereby saidelectro-magnet will be energized each time any solenoid is energized, acontact member associated with the radio receiving set circuit to beattracted by said electro-magnet for closing the radio circuit, means tomaintain the contact member in a closed position, and means forselectively actuating said contact member to open the radio circuit.

3. A device of the kind described consisting of a plurality of contactstrips, annularly arranged in spaced relation and insulated from eachother, means at one end constituting lugs, a collector ring in annularparallelism with the lugs and insulated therefrom, station selectorrings concentric with the series of contact strips, said stationselector rings being spaced and insulated from each other and from thecontact strips, a plurality of tuning elements on the tuning shaft of aradio receiving set, a separate solenoid for actuating eachof saidtuning units, each of said solenoids being electrically connected with aseparate station selector ring, a contact member having slidingengagement with the collector ring and the lugs of the contact strips, anormally open switch in circuit with the collector ring, means normallyacting to continuously rotate the contact member whereby circuits willbe completed through the collector ring, the lugs and the contact stripsthereof successively at uniform periods of time, the means which rotatesthe contact member also .embodying means to periodically close thenormally open switch, and means to simultaneously bridge one of thecontact strips and one of the station selector rings whereby theradioreceiving set will be tuned to a predetermined broadcast wave length ata predetermined time.'

4. The structure set forth in claim 3 in combination with a stoppingselector ring arranged similar to the station selector rings, a pair ofopposed electro-magnets, one of which is in circuit with the solenoidsand the other with the station selector stopping ring, means to bridge damate l said selectorring and. a'selected, contact strip, a contact armbetweentl'ie electro-magnets to be attracted by one of said magnets forclosing the `radio circuit andattracted by the other of said magnets toopen said radio circuit, and means to retain said contact arm-in eitherposition.

5. As a sub-combination in a radio tuning -device, a drum having a.plurality of annularly spaced holes, contact strips in said holes, lugsprojecting from said contact strips and arranged in spaced relation andinsulated from each other to produce a commutatorringz a'collector ringin spaced parallel relation to the commutator ring,

a brush bridging said collector and commutator` rings, a. normally openswitch within the drum, means to periodically operate said switch, meansto continuously rotate said. switch operating means and the brush incertain time relation to partially complete circuits in which saidswitch and the commutator and collector rings are parts, stationselector rings and a stopping selector, ring mounted in the drum andhaving portions exposed only in each of the holes, said station selectorrings adapted to be connected with means for operating the tuning shaftof a radio receiving set as well as means for closing a switch in theradio circuit and said stopping selector ring adapted to be .connectedwith means for opening the switch of to a predetermined positionfbandsprings fixed to a hub on the tuning discs, a solenoid plunger to whichsaid springs are connected, means to stop the tuning discs in a neutralposition, adjustable means to stop the tuning discs at otherpredetermined positions, and a solenoid into which the plunger projects.

'1. A radio program selector comprising in cornbination with a tuningmember, a time selector having receptacles and a plurality of contactsin alignment therewith, a station selector having a plurality ofelectric elements connected individually to said contacts in the timeselector and associated with said tuning member in positions tocorrespond to stations to be selected, and removable key membersinsertable in said receptacles inthe time selector, and adapted to makeselective connection between the timing mechanism and the stationselector, with additional selective means for connecting and cutting offthe electric supply to the radio receiver comprising an electric meansfor making the supply connection simultaneously with flow` of currentfor the time and station selecting means, and additional means forholding the supply circuit closed after the selecting circuits are open,with means for opening the electric supply circuit, and a circuitclosing contact in the time selector connected with said circuit openingmeans, with a stop key adapted to be inserted in the time selector tomake contact with said circuit closing contact at selected periods.

NELS NELSON.

